What hurts? - foot and ankle

Our feet and ankles bear the brunt ofevery step we take. Fractures, ankle sprains, and sports injuries have traditionally been cared for by orthopaedic surgeons. Capital Region Orthopaedic Group has fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeons who take care of all aspects of foot and ankle problems; from traumatic ankle injuries to bunions and hammertoes.

The most common foot and ankle problems include:

• Foot and ankle sprains and fractures
• Tendonitis
• Heel pain
• Bunions and hammertoes
• Arthritis
• Flatfoot and high arch deformities
• Sprains and Fractures

Ankle sprains and fractures are very common and can lead to long-term disabilities and arthritis, especially if not treated promptly and properly. We are experts in dealing with sports injuries and instability as well as high energy trauma.

Ankle sprains can be mild and resolve in days. Other more severe sprains can require surgery and extended rehab. Often subtle injuries are missed and lead to avoidable long term problems such as instability, impingement, and arthritis.

Foot and ankle fractures can often times be complicated and difficult to diagnose. There are over twenty-six bone in the human foot. Each bone and its surrounding joints are intimately related and each have their own unique role to play in normal foot and ankle function.

Any foot or ankle injury that leads to significant pain, swelling, or difficulty walking should be seen and evaluated by one of our doctors. We can routinely treat the most severe foot and ankle injuries and can prevent your routine injury from becoming a long-term problem.

Tendonitis

Tendon disorders can affect a wide range of patients participating in a wide range of activities. Children experience pain related to tendon-bone attachments. All age groups suffer with achilles pain and athletes frequently have medial and lateral flexor tendonitis.

Achilles tendonitis can present as heel pain and is typically marked by swelling in the back of the foot and heel. Physical therapy and stretching can often help but steroid injections should be avoided. Sometimes this tendonitis can become a chronic problem. Surgery of the achilles tendon often requires technically demanding procedures such as bone resections and tendon transfers.

Athletes are frequently side-lined by lateral foot pain caused by peroneal tendonits. Some foot shapes such as high-arch feet can have a higher propensity to develop this problem. Foot and ankle specialists are trained to recognize these deformities and can prescribe the appropriate orthotics and physical therapy which may help avoid surgery.

Heel pain

Heel pain is ubiquitous. Many people suffer from plantar fasciitis and although usually not dangerous, this diagnosis can lead to disability, loss of income, and chronic pain. Properly guided conservative treatment such as stretching, night splints, and orthotics can usually eradicate the pain. Occasionally surgery is indicated.

Other causes of heel pain that may masquerade as plantar fasciitis include; heel pad atrophy, nerve entrapments, and stress fractures. Making the correctdiagnosis is crucial to formulating the appropriate treatment strategy.

Bunions and Hammertoes

Hallux valgus deformity is commonly called a bunion. Hallux valgus can slowly worsen over time and be responsible for significant pain and difficulty with shoe-wear. This is a familiar problem but is often confused with hallux rigidus or big toe arthritis. Differentiating the two is very important. Also, many types of bunion-correcting operations are available. Having a skilled surgeon who understands the differences between these techniques can make a big impact on the success of the reconstruction.

Arthritis and Foot Deformities

Pes plano-valgus and cavo-varus foot posture are the technical names for flat-feet and high-arch feet. Most of the time these deformities are only cosmetic and only minimally impare function. Occasionally, however, they are associated with pain and increasing deformity. When arthritis is present the problem can be even more debilitating. These deformities also predispose patients to other peripheral foot and ankle problems. Orthotics and therapy are typically first-line treatments but large reconstructive procedures are often needed. Our foot and ankle specialists have trained additional years after the five-year general orthopaedic residency and are expert in these reconstructive techniques and procedures.

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